As children, Sean and Jimmy were friends simply because their fathers worked together at the Coleman Candy plant. Dave, a boy from Jimmy’s neighborhood, would sometimes tag along. One day, Sean notices Jimmy is in one of his semi-frequent dark moods. Jimmy suggests stealing a car and, initially, the other two boys are eager to join in. As they begin to look for a car to drive, Sean realizes that he is “not a kid who stole cars” (10) and backs out. Dave and Jimmy begin shoving Sean for changing his mind. As they fight, two “cops” named Henry and George drive up in an unmarked car. The men chastise the boys for fighting in the street and ask if they live in the neighborhood. Jimmy lies and says yes, Sean says yes, but Dave tells the truth: He lives in the Flats, the poorer part of the neighborhood. The men blame Dave for starting the fight, demanding Dave get in the car, leaving Sean and Jimmy to stare at the car as it disappears.

When they get back to Sean’s house, Sean’s parents call the real police, who question Sean and Jimmy about the car and the men in it.